Touch display PDA phone with slide keypad

• US 7,388,578 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tao, Di
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/883,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/173, 345/179, 345/901, 345/903, 345/905, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A user interface for an electronic device is constructed having a touch sensitive screen which may be operated in multiple configurations. A shuttle keypad is slidably mounted on the device with general function keys and buttons for providing such operations as entering and cursor movements and soft keys programmed to a selected application. The configuration of the touch sensitive screen is changed in response to the position of the shuttle keypad.

Claims

1. A user interface for an electronic device comprising:

a touch sensitive display adaptable to multiple configurations;

a shuttle keypad mounted on the electronic device for sliding motion over the touch sensitive display between multiple positions in which varying portions of said touch sensitive display are exposed to accommodate at least two of said multiple configurations and wherein the shuttle keypad is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the shuttle keypad divides said touch sensitive display into two portions.

2. A user interface, according to claim 1 wherein, said shuttle keypad further comprises at least one button thereon for operating a function of said electronic device.

3. A user interface, according to claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor controller for adapting the configuration of the touch sensitive display in correlation to the position of the shuttle keypad.

4. A user interface, according to claim 1, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle keypad divides the touch sensitive display into first and second portions.

5. A user interface, according to claim 4, wherein said first portion comprises a communication keypad and said second portion comprises a notepad.

6. A user interface, according to claim 4, wherein said first portion comprises a gaming application and said second portion comprises a list of participants.

7. A user interface, according to claim 1, wherein, in normal operation, said electronic device is oriented in a portrait type orientation.

8. A user interface, according to claim 1, wherein, in normal operation, said electronic device is oriented in a landscape type orientation.

9. A user interface, according to claim 1, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle keypad is positioned to expose a full display portion and in said position said shuttle keypad is within a boundary of the device.

10. A user interface, according to claim 9, wherein said full display portion comprises a combination personal digital assistant and communications display.

11. A user interface, according to claim 1, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle keypad is positioned to expose a maximum display portion and in said position said shuttle keypad extends beyond a boundary of the device.

12. A user interface, according to claim 1, wherein said shuttle keypad comprises multiple keys or buttons and wherein at least one of said keys or buttons is programmable to different functions.

13. A user interface, according to claim 12, wherein said microprocessor controller also adapts said function said programmable key in correlation to the position of said shuttle keypad.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a personal digital assistant module mounted within said housing for providing multiple related functions;

a mobile telephone module mounted within said housing for providing a communication function;

a touch sensitive display adaptable to multiple configurations; and

a shuttle keypad mounted on the electronic device for sliding motion thereon, over the touch sensitive display, between multiple positions in which varying portions of said touch sensitive display are exposed and wherein the shuttle keypad is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the shuttle keypad divides said touch sensitive display into two portions.

15. An electronic device, according to claim 14, further comprising a microprocessor controller for controlling the functions of said personal digital assistant module and said mobile telephone module and for adapting the configuration of the touch sensitive display in correlation to the position of the shuttle keypad.

16. An electronic device, according to claim 14, wherein a first of said multiple positions is correlated to said mobile telephone module and, in said first position, said shuttle keypad divides the touch sensitive display into first and second portions, wherein said first portion comprises a communication keypad and said second portion comprises a notepad.

17. An electronic device, according to claim 14, wherein, a second of said multiple positions is correlated to a combination of said personal digital assistant and said mobile telephone module, and, in said second position, said shuttle keypad is positioned to expose a full display portion and in said position said shuttle keypad is within a boundary of the device.

18. An electronic device, according to claim 17, wherein said full display portion comprises a combination personal digital assistant and communications display.

19. An electronic device, according to claim 14, wherein, in a third of said multiple positions, said shuttle keypad is positioned to expose a maximum display portion and in said third position said shuttle keypad extends beyond a boundary of the device.

20. An electronic device, according to claim 14, further comprising a digital camera mounted on a back of said housing, and, in said first position said shuttle keypad acts as a cover for said digital camera.

21. A method of operating an electronic device having a touch sensitive display, comprising:

mounting a shuttle element for sliding motion on the electronic device over the touch sensitive display, between multiple positions in which varying sections of said touch sensitive display are exposed, and wherein the shuttle keypad is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the shuttle keypad divides said touch sensitive display into two portions;

adapting said touch sensitive display screen to have multiple configurations; and

adjusting the configuration of said touch sensitive display in response to the position of the shuttle element.

22. A method, according to claim 21, wherein said first portion comprises a communication keypad and said second portion comprises a notepad.

23. A method, according to claim 21, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle element is positioned to expose a full display portion and in said position said shuttle element is within a boundary of the device.

24. A method, according to claim 23, wherein said full screen portion comprises a combination personal digital assistant and communications display.

25. A method, according to claim 21, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle element is positioned to expose a maximum display portion and in said position said shuttle keypad extends beyond a boundary of the device.

26. A method, according to claim 21, wherein, said shuttle element is constructed having at least one button thereon for operating a function of said electronic device.

27. A method, according to claim 21, wherein said shuttle element is mounted on the electronic device for sliding motion between multiple positions in which varying portions of said touch sensitive display are exposed to accommodate at least two of said multiple configurations.

28. A method, according to claim 21, wherein said shuttle keypad comprises multiple keys or buttons and wherein at least one of said keys or buttons is programmable to different functions.

29. A method, according to claim 28, wherein said microprocessor controller also adapts said function of said programmable key in correlation to the position of said shuttle keypad.

30. A method, according to claim 21, wherein said first portion comprises a gaming application and said second portion comprises a list of participants.

31. A method, according to claim 21, wherein, in normal operation, said electronic device is oriented in a portrait type orientation.

32. A method, according to claim 21, wherein, in normal operation, said electronic device is oriented in a landscape type orientation.

33. A user interface for an electronic device comprising:

a touch sensitive display adaptable to multiple display configurations;

a shuttle element mounted on the electronic device for sliding motion thereon, over the touch sensitive display, between multiple positions in which varying sections of said touch sensitive display portion are exposed, and wherein the shuttle keypad is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the shuttle keypad divides said touch sensitive display into two portions.

34. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein said first portion comprises a communication keypad and said second portion comprises a notepad.

35. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle element is positioned to expose a full display portion and in said position said shuttle element is within a boundary of the device.

36. A user interface, according to claim 35, wherein said full display portion comprises a combination personal digital assistant and communications display.

37. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein, in one of said multiple positions, said shuttle element is positioned to expose a maximum display portion and in said position said shuttle element extends beyond a boundary of the device.

38. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein, said shuttle element is constructed having at least one button thereon for operating a function of said electronic device.

39. A user interface, according to claim 33, said shuttle element being mounted on the electronic device for sliding motion between multiple positions in which varying portions of said touch sensitive display are exposed to accommodate at least two of said multiple configurations.

40. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein said shuttle keypad comprises multiple keys or buttons and wherein at least one of said keys or buttons is programmable to different functions.

41. A user interface, according to claim 33 further comprising a microprocessor controller for adapting the configuration of said display in correlation to the position of the shuttle keypad.

42. A user interface, according to claim 41, wherein said microprocessor controller also adapts said function of said programmable key in correlation to the position of said shuttle keypad.

43. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein said first portion comprises a gaming application and said second portion comprises a list of participants.

44. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein, in normal operation, said electronic device is oriented in a portrait type orientation.

45. A user interface, according to claim 33, wherein, in normal operation, said electronic device is oriented in a landscape type orientation.

46. An electronic device having a display comprising:

means for dividing the display, mounted on the electronic device, extending across the display, for sliding motion over the display; and

wherein said means for dividing is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the shuttle keypad divides said touch sensitive display into two portions.

47. An electronic device, said electronic device having a display and a processor, and means for dividing the display, mounted on the electronic device, extending across the display, for sliding motion over the display, and wherein the means for dividing is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the means for dividing divides said touch sensitive display into two portions, a program product comprising:

program code executed by the processor for causing the electronic device to monitor the position of the means for dividing;

program code executed by the processor for causing the electronic device to adapt the display for multiple configurations; and

program code executed by the processor for causing the electronic device to adjust the configuration of said display in response to the position of the means for dividing.

48. A user interface support module for an electronic device having a display screen comprising:

a shuttle element mounted on the electronic device for sliding motion thereon, over the display screen between multiple positions in which varying sections of the display screen are exposed, and wherein the shuttle element is limited in size so that, in at least one of said multiple positions, the shuttle element divides said display screen into two portions.

49. A user interface support module according to claim 48 further comprising at least one control element mounted on the shuttle element for controlling a function of the electronic device.